Explorations in Brioche Knitting

Bring luscious texture and stunning, reversible patterns to your knitting. Nancy Marchant, the Queen of Brioche, shows how to master this European stitch.

Master the versatile, reversible European stitch known as brioche. Knit along with Nancy as you learn the basic brioche stitches, increases and decreases, then cast on to create the deliciously textured one-color Jacki scarf or the stunningly patterned two-color Alex scarf. Patterns and charts are included!

Lesson 1. Introduction

Lesson 2. One-Color Brioche

Lesson 3. The One-Color Jacki Scarf

Master the Italian cast-on, then knit this elegant one-color scarf using increases and decreases to create a zigzag pattern.

31:43

Lesson 4. Two-Color Brioche

Add a new dimension to your brioche knitting by using two colors. You'll learn how to use the Italian cast-on and how to use syncopation to highlight colors.

20:12

Lesson 5. Two-Color Increases, Decreases & Bind-Offs

Use increases and decreases to create intricate patterns in your two-colo knitting, then learn how to bind off for a clean edge.

36:29

Lesson 6. The Two-Color Alex Scarf

Beautiful leaves cascade across this stunning scarf that Nancy will show you how to knit.

7:43

Lesson 7. Brioche in the Round

Here are some helpful hints to use when making hats, mittens or socks in brioche, whether one color or two.

20:59

Lesson 8. Troubleshooting & Tips

Learn how to pick up dropped stitches, fix decreases that face the wrong way and recover a whole row should your needle pull out. Get tips on adding new yarn, working with larger pieces and blocking.

27:22

Lesson 9. Reading a Brioche Chart

Learn to read a brioche chart to make it easier to follow a pattern.

30:23

Lesson 10. Brioche Variations

Delve into brioche variations, including stockinette, honeycomb and syncopated brioche.

"I bought Nancy Marchant's book a few years ago but felt too intimidated of this style to give it a shot. Though her book is excellent, I learn so much better when seen in action, as opposed to still shots, so I was very happy to see her featured here on Craftsy! With her clear demonstrations, I picked up the method very quickly. Her style is straightforward and even-paced. She covers everything including how to fix mistakes, blocking, etc. You can tell she is a Brioche Master! Great class!" - pollyfoofoonew england

5000+ students have enrolled in this class

Recently Enrolled

Student projects

Lesson plan

6:57

Lesson 1. Introduction

Meet Nancy Marchant, the Queen of Brioche knitting.

28:13

Lesson 2. One-Color Brioche

Learn the basic concepts and stitches of brioche knitting.

31:30

Lesson 3. The One-Color Jacki Scarf

Master the Italian cast-on, then knit this elegant one-color scarf using increases and decreases to create a zigzag pattern.

31:43

Lesson 4. Two-Color Brioche

Add a new dimension to your brioche knitting by using two colors. You'll learn how to use the Italian cast-on and how to use syncopation to highlight colors.

20:12

Lesson 5. Two-Color Increases, Decreases & Bind-Offs

Use increases and decreases to create intricate patterns in your two-colo knitting, then learn how to bind off for a clean edge.

36:29

Lesson 6. The Two-Color Alex Scarf

Beautiful leaves cascade across this stunning scarf that Nancy will show you how to knit.

7:43

Lesson 7. Brioche in the Round

Here are some helpful hints to use when making hats, mittens or socks in brioche, whether one color or two.

20:59

Lesson 8. Troubleshooting & Tips

Learn how to pick up dropped stitches, fix decreases that face the wrong way and recover a whole row should your needle pull out. Get tips on adding new yarn, working with larger pieces and blocking.

27:22

Lesson 9. Reading a Brioche Chart

Learn to read a brioche chart to make it easier to follow a pattern.

30:23

Lesson 10. Brioche Variations

Delve into brioche variations, including stockinette, honeycomb and syncopated brioche.

The instructor

Nancy Marchant, Instructor of Explorations in Brioche Knitting

The “Queen of Brioche,” Nancy Marchant, first encountered and fell in love with brioche stitch when she moved to the Netherlands in 1976. Since then, she has spread brioche to knitters far and wide, at events both large and small. Nancy has written for several publications, including Vogue Knitting, and is the proud author of two brioche books, Knitting Brioche and Knitting Fresh Brioche. She also maintains a website on the subject: www.briochestitch.com.

Ratings & reviews

Class rating

(55 reviews)

Tercera Corrida

by cbaezar on February 28, 2015

Clear View of a New Path

by abcmadre on February 15, 2015

Nancy provides straightforward and clear instructions on this beautiful new way of creating knitted fabric. Her pace and instructions are easy to follow, the material is well laid out to build skills. She is right that it takes practice to get comfortable with brioche stitches if they are new to you. The practice swatches are key to the learning. Her patterns are beautiful and look more complex than they are once you learn the technique. Since I don't knit in brioche very often, having the ...

Nancy provides straightforward and clear instructions on this beautiful new way of creating knitted fabric. Her pace and instructions are easy to follow, the material is well laid out to build skills. She is right that it takes practice to get comfortable with brioche stitches if they are new to you. The practice swatches are key to the learning. Her patterns are beautiful and look more complex than they are once you learn the technique. Since I don't knit in brioche very often, having the Craftsy lessons always available helps refresh my skill. Highly recommend!!!

Wonderful class!

by phiber phanatic on February 10, 2015

I have had Nancy's first book for quite some time, but not until I watched her class did it all make sense to me. She is a great teacher, and I have learned so very much. I wish she was a continental knitter, but you can't have everything :)

I have had Nancy's first book for quite some time, but not until I watched her class did it all make sense to me. She is a great teacher, and I have learned so very much. I wish she was a continental knitter, but you can't have everything :)

Outstanding!

by spacecurry on January 31, 2015

Love this workshop and love the teaching style, I can totally follow it even I knit continental style only. Thanks!

Love this workshop and love the teaching style, I can totally follow it even I knit continental style only. Thanks!

Love Your Class

by knittingq1473744 on January 17, 2015

I loved your class yesterday at Vogue NYC Knit Live and your book. I'm so happy you have a craftsy class too so I can always remember what I learned yesterday.

I loved your class yesterday at Vogue NYC Knit Live and your book. I'm so happy you have a craftsy class too so I can always remember what I learned yesterday.